While residents of Aarey Milk Colony’s slum pockets and tribal hamlets have been constantly demanding public toilets due to concerns about encountering leopards while relieving themselves in the open, two 70-toilet public lavatories that were inaugurated in 2023 have not been opened to the public. Locals claim they were told that electricity and water are yet to be supplied to the buildings, raising questions as to why the facilities were inaugurated in the first place. Shiv Sena (UBT) Shakha Pramukh Sandeep Gadhave has written to the P South ward’s assistant municipal commissioner, seeking answers.

The 70-toilet facility at Unit 31, which was inaugurated by BJP MLA Ameet Satam almost two years ago

“Two 70-toilet lavatories were constructed at Units 7 and 31, so that Aarey residents didn’t have to go out to answer nature’s call in the open. On June 18, 2023, BJP Mumbai President and three-time MLA Ashish Shelar inaugurated the facility at Unit 7, but even after two years, the toilet has not been opened for the public. This clearly shows that the local BJP leader and the corporator have fooled everyone,” said Gadhave. According to the Sena (UBT) leader, the Unit 31 facility was inaugurated by BJP MLA Ameet Satam in September 2023.